Software Comparison

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Software Comparison
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Needs

• Recognises a variety of file formats (graphics,
  sound and video)
• Allows interaction with media
• Easy to use but allows complex constructs
• Management of media
• Print media and text

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Applications of Multimedia

• CBT
• Point of sale materials
• Product demos
• Information kiosks
• Games
• Edutainment
• Internet

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Requirements

• Standalone, runtime executable
• Internet support
• Import wide range of file formats
• Media manipulation
• Animation controls
• Standard user interface controls
• Useable interface to handle complexity

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Measures

• Flexibility Power
• in meeting varying development needs

• Usability
• productivity
• speed at which something can be developed
• intuitiveness
• need for use of manuals or other help facilities
• satisfaction
• features of product

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Problems

• Generally difficult to use - many sophisticated
  interactive elements
• Lack of standardisation
• diverse operating methods, dependence on
  terminology
• Visual logic display workspace
• Language dependence

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Established Multimedia Authoring.....

• Timeline
• Macromedia Director

...Tools and Types
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Flow chart approach

• Provides a diagrammatic overview
• Visual logic display - good for producing complex
  applications
• Can create complex applications without need for
  scripting
• Quick and easy to create basic structure
• Can be difficult to learn due to over use of
  dialogue boxes and the many tools

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Timebased

• Good for sequential events
• Drag drop media elements to assemble
• Easy to create film loops
• Provides fine control for animation
• Complex systems allow jumps, interactivity,
  navigation
• Above usually reliant on scripting
• Poor visual guide to structure of application
  excepting linear structures

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Card based

• Can have 1,000s of cards or pages
• Cards are linked in organised sequences
• Easily understood metaphor
• Navigational structure
• Scripting language
• Powerful but relatively easy for none programmer
• Object oriented - objects with properties

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Authorware (Interactive Studio)

• Lacks versatile animation tools
• Provides good control over interactivity
• Uses icons which represent tools
• Uses two windows
• 1. Design - flowchart metaphor using icons and
  text to show application structure
• 2. Presentation - to preview application

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Authorware
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Icon Author

• Uses flowchart metaphor with icons and text
• Uses separate modules -
• SmartObject Editor provides control over
  behaviour of media elements and on screen
  controls
• IconAnimate to create and edit animations
• Can tackle most difficult application development
  tasks
• Powerful but complex

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Icon Author
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Dazzler Deluxe

• Highly visual and object oriented
• Uses responses palette to add interactive
  controls (action and responses tools)
• No scripting required
• Uses dual windows design presentation
• Easy to set window action properties
• Finished applications packaged for distribution,
  CD, network,(even upload to a Website)

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Dazzler Deluxe v4.0
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Macromedia Director

• Applications created known as movies
• Consists of 3 main windows
• Cast - thumbnail view of media elements
• Stage - where media elements (cast members) are
  assembled and viewed
• Score used to control animation of cast members
• Film loop feature
• Interactivity relies on Lingo scripting
• Editing for text and bitmap graphics
• Wide range of transition effects

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Director
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Toolbook

• Authoring package and programming language
• Some learning required
• Can design look to suit
• Powerful hypertext linking
• Full multimedia support
• Powerful scripting language

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Conclusion

• Choice will be influenced by
• Budget
• Time constraints
• Type of intended application
• Existing technical expertise
• Intended distribution media